Warning about reserver milage figure - I ran out at 32Miles to go

[pcman_jh]

My 2004 E220 CDI was showing 32 miles to go when it ran out - on a busy dual carriageway, with only about 3 miles to go to the filling station I was heading for. I've only had it for 3 weeks, and filled her up the once, this being the second time...

I've had my VW Golf's mileage range down to 0, so was thinking 32 miles would be fine, plus any margin of error, but NO!!

It won't happen a second time.

Warning to everyone!!

 

[television]

Will take note of that,,I just filled up with 65 liters and thats the furthest that I have gone with the 80 liter tank showing near on empty

 

[lulu]

I got mine down to 20 or therabouts and it went into limp mode.

Likewise, won't make that mistake again.

 

[IAN MAC]

Why drain the tank so low and risk contaminating the whole system with crap from the bottom of the tank..??? Not worth it in my opinion. Top up when it gets close to the red next time..!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cnics]

I've always been concerned about the accuracy of Fuel gauges. I'll always top up when i get down to a quarter of a tank in the sprinter. Simply because i know they're not good good on fuel around towns when you are desperately trying to find one. Similarly they're not good when cold.

It's a 65ltr tank which is small IMO but i didn't buy new so didn't have the option of the 100ltr tank which i'd very much like. However, what concerns me is that if i let it get to pretty much dead on 1/4 of a tank and fill up. I put about 66-67Ltrs in to fill it. Now that means the tank is bigger than 65ltrs ( I appreciate you can get a fair amount in the neck) or the gauge is inaccurate and actually when i get to 1/4 tank i'm nearly empty.
That said on the rare occasion i've been left searching for one i've managed to go 50 or so miles after a quarter of a tank til its half way between "quarter" and "walk" and the light hasn't even come on.

 

[Rory]

Why drain the tank so low and risk contaminating the whole system with crap from the bottom of the tank..??? Not worth it in my opinion. Top up when it gets close to the red next time..!!!!!!!!!

That doesn't really happen these days with injection systems as fuel is constantly swirled from, and back to, the tank.

My tank capacity is 63L (W203 estate) which gives a useable 55L or so and it could really do with more.

 

[Nuclear Bob]

The gauge on my C220 CDI W203 is spot on ........... once I was miles from a garage with the indication dropping - and a few hundred yards after it indicated zero, it petered out. Luckily I was only a few hundred yards from a garage..... I hope lesson learnt, but I have since regarded the 'miles remaining' as accurate, and often run fairly low.